Flush valve for toilet tanks



Nov. 3, 1936. A. ROSEWOOD FLUSH VALVE FOR TOILET TANKS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 INVENTOR.

ALFRED Rosawooo my ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in flush-valves for toilet tanks and its principal object is to provide a flush-valve of the character described and an operating mechanism for the same that will result in longer life for the valve, positive seating with all danger of leaking eliminated and an arrangement whereby the tank is only partly emptied during the flushing operation so that a reserve body of water is available after the flushing operation for an immediate second flushing if such is desired.

More particularly it is proposed to provide a flush valve that is sufficiently heavy to gravitate through the flushing medium to the valve seat when released from a raised position so that the valve may be made to return to its seat at any desired predetermined time regardless of the amount of water still present in the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cup-shaped valve made of elastic material such as rubber so that the water within the tank fills the cup and presses the wall thereof into intimate contact with the valve seat whereby leakage is made practically impossible.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for lifting the valve with means for automatically holding in raised position until the level of the water has descended to a predetermined point and thereupon automatically dropping the valve for closing the tank.

It is further proposed to provide several dif ferent ways of arranging the holding and releasing means, the holding being preferably accomplished by friction and the release either by the conventional main float of the flushing tank or by a special float particularly provided for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in the operating mechanism for the purpose of securing a more perfect axial alinement between the valve seat and the path of the valve and for assuring rectilinear movement of the valve so as to insure perfect seating of the same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which I Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a toilet tank with the flushing apparatus shown partly in section and partly in rear elevation.

Figure 2 a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the operating mechanism as viewed from line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 a horizontal section taken along line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 an enlarged detail view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a slightly modified form of control mechanism.

Figure 5 a view of the same mechanism shown in Figure 4 and taken at right angles thereto, and

Figures 6 and 7 detail views of a modified form of valve control mechanism.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figure 1 shows the toilet tank I having a conventional water intake pipe 2 with a valve (not shown) controlled by an operating mechanism indicated at 3 which latter is again controlled by the float 4 provided at the end of the rod 5, the valve operating mechanism being arranged so that when the tank is filled to a predetermined height the float closes the valve and when the level of the water is lowered the float opens the valve and maintains the same in open position until the water level has again reached the predetermined height.

In the bottom of the tank is provided a conventional casting 6 comprising a conduit 1 and a valve seat 8 and also an overflow pipe 9 which projects into the tank to a predetermined height and which connects with the conduit 1 through a lateral passage I0, entering the conduit underneath the valve seat. The conduit itself leads in a conventional manner to the toilet bowl (not shown).

My invention relates particularly to the valve H for the conduit and to its operating mechanism. My valve is semi-spherical or cup-shaped and is, with its attending operating portions, of sufficient Weight to gravitate toward the seat through the flushing medium, so that it may be seated while the tank is still partly filled with water. The valve is made of flexible, elastic material such as rubber and when a body of water is present in the tank it will be noted that the water fills the cup and urges the wall thereof into contact with the valve seat whereby leakage of water past the valve is prevented.

A rod [2 rises vertically from the center of the valve cup and is preferably threaded into a casting l3 which latter is moulded into an embossment M of the cup. The upper end of the rod l2 passes through the guide l5 which comprises a sleeve l6 fastened upon the over-flow pipe 9 by p .is exerted on the other end means of screws H (see Figure 3), an arm l8 extending radially from the sleeve and two spaced eyelets l9 projecting from the arm, the eyelets being arranged, when properly positioned, in axial alinement with the conduit 1 and its valve seat.

Projecting from the upper eyelet and level with the upper face thereof is an arm 20 and a plate 2| overlies the arm 20 and the upper eyelet and is perforated as at 22 in axial alinement with the eyelets so that the rod 12 passing through the eyelets also passes through the perforation in the plate. The rod terminates, above the plate, in an eye 23.

The rod I2 is lifted by means ofa secondrod 24, which latter is operated by any suitable lever mechanism as at 25 and engages the plate 2! by means of a hooked bottom portionjfi ,oftherod.

passing through a rolled section 27 of the plate. It will be noted that due to this construction the plate 2 rests loosely on the upper eyelet and automatically seeks the best position for raising the rod rectilinearly along the axis of the conduit 1, while at the same time the plate is kept from turning by the engagement. of the hooked bottom of the rod with the rolled portion 27 of the plate which is of sufficient length to prevent any turning or twisting movement.

While in Figure 2 the plate 2| is shown directly underneath the eye 23 of the rod !2 so as to raise the rod by the eye this particular position is not necessary and as a matter of fact the sleeve [5 carrying the eyelets and the plate may be lowered on the overflow pipe to any position desired.

' Thus it may happen and usually will happen 7 plate is returned to a horizontal or reversed slanting position.

For holding and releasing the raised valve I use any one of a number of different forms. The form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a ..-strand of wire 28, an intermediate portion of which passes through the arm l5 as shown at 29 while one end 30 is turned parallel to the intermediate portion so as to bear against the rod l2 between the two eyelets l9 when a lifting force 3!. This end is turned into the shape of a loop adapted to receive the threaded portion of an electric light bulb 32 which serves as a float and holds the rod I2 in lifted position until the water level descends i suiflciently to lower the bulb which causes the end 39 of the wire to release the rod and allows the valve to drop upon its seat.

It is apparent that any other suitable float may be substituted for the light globe without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The operation of my invention as described thus far will be readily understood from the foregoing description. When the toilet is to be flushed the operator actuates the lever mechanism 25, pulling the rod 24 upward, lifting the plate 2! and raising the rod l2 and the valve II. The water now rushes into the toilet bowl through the conduit 1. The valve is automatically held in its raised position by the wire, the end 30 of which is pressed against the rod l2, while the plate 2| rides down on the rod l2 upon release of the lever mechanism. When the water level sinks sufficiently to cause the float 32 to sink the friction between the wire and the rod [2 is released and the valve II is free to gravitate toward the valve seat through the remaining body of water, the rod l2 being free to ride through the plate. The water fills the cup and urges the wall of the valve into close contact with the valve seat for forming a perfect seal. If an immediate second flushing is desired the valve may be raised again immediately and held manually in open position until the rest of the water is discharged.

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5 the wire 33 is supported in two bearings 34 and bent at one end to bear against the rod as at 35 under the influence, of a spring 36. An arm 31 projecting from the other end of the wire lies in the path of the rod 5 to which the main float 4 is attached and when due to the discharge of the water the float 4 descends to a predetermined position the rod 5 strikes the arm 31 and releases the rod l2 so that the valve is allowed to drop into place.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further modification in which a bearing 38 is interposed transversely and slightly off-center between the two, eyelets 39 and 40 and a journal 4| is revolvably mounted in the bearing. The journal comprises two spaced sections 42 and 43 straddling the rod I2 and joined by an eccentric pin 44 which allows the rod l2 to slide freely through the bearing when the pin is positioned on the horizontal centerline of the bearing. When the journal is turned to bring the pin into frictional contact with the rod the latter is held by friction in lifted position. The pin has an arm 45 extending therefrom and the arm is operated by a float in the manner previously described so that normally, when the tankis full the buoyancy of the float presses the pin against the rod 12, but when the float sinks, the pressure of the pin against the rod is released and the rod is free to fall.

For the purposes of my invention the main float 4 should preferably be adjusted to bring the normal water level close to the top of the overflow pipe and the increased drop due to the higher water level will result in a more eiflcient flushing operation.

The plate 2| is particularly useful in so far.

as it provides a leverage for overcoming the initial resistance offered by the valve when it is lifted off its seat and it not only facilitates the operation but also reduces wear on the parts involved in the operation.

I claim:

1. In combination, a toilet tank, an outlet conduit in the'tank having a valve seat, a valve on said seat having a rod rising therefrom, a guide for the rod, a plate loosely overlying the guide and having a perforation through which the rod extends and means engaging the plate at a distance from the perforation for raising the plate whereby the plate is tilted and the edges of the perforation are made to raise the rod.

2. In combination, a toilet tank, anoutletcone duit in the tank having a valve seat, a valve on said seat having a rod rising therefrom, a guide.

for the rod, a plate loosely overlying the guide and having a perforation through which the rod extends and means engaging the plate at a distancefrom the perforation for. raising the plate whereby the plate is tilted and the edges of the perforation are made to raise the rod, the edges being cut in an incline to bite the rod when the plate is tilted upward while allowing of free movement between the plate and the rod when the plate is returned to normal position or is tilted reversely.

3. In combination, a toilet tank, an outlet conduit in the tank having a valve seat, a valve on said seat having a rod rising therefrom, a guide for the rod, a plate loosely overlying the guide and having a perforation through which the rod extends and means engaging the plate at a distance from the perforation for raising the plate whereby the plate is tilted and the edges of the perforation are made to raise the rod, the connection between the plate and the raising means being such as to prevent lateral tilting movement of the plate.

4. In combination, a toilet tank for holding a flushing medium, an outlet conduit in the tank having a submerged valve seat, a valve shaped for forming a seal with the valve seat and made to gravitate toward the valve seat through the flushing medium, operating means for lifting the valve including a valve rod, a pair of spaced eyelets for guiding the rod, a bearing mounted between the eyelets and off-center therefrom, a journal in said bearing having two spaced sections straddling the rod and having a pin connecting the two sections eccentrically whereby the pin is made to bear against the rod for holding the same when the journal is turned to one position and is made to release the rod when the journal is turned to another position and float controlled means for operating the journal.

5. In combination, a toilet tank for holding a flushing medium, an outlet conduit in the tank having a submerged valve seat, a valve shaped for forming a seal with the valve seat, operating means for lifting the valve including a valve rod, guide means for the valve rod and means for automatically holding the valve in any position to which it may be lifted.

6. In combination, a toilet tank for holding a flushing medium, an outlet conduit in the tank having a submerged valve seat, a valve shaped for forming a seal with the valve seat, operating means for lifting the valve, including a valve rod, guide means for the valve rod, friction means engageable with the valve rod and means for urging the friction means upon the valve rod throughout the valve lifting movement whereby the valve is automatically held in any position towhich it may be lifted.

'7. In combination, a toilet tank for holding a flushing medium, an outlet conduit in the tank having a submerged valve seat and a cup-shaped valve of flexible, elastic material for the valve seat, the valve being closed at the bottom to form a seal for the conduit when seated and being open at the top to allow the flushing medium to fill the cup and to urge the wall of the cup by uniform and direct pressure upon the valve seat.

8. In combination, a toilet tank for holding a flushing medium, an outlet conduit in the tank having a submerged valve seat, a valve shaped for forming a seal with the valve seat and operating means for lifting the valve, including a valve rod, guide means for the valve rod, a member movable between a position of frictional contact with the valve rod and a position out of contact with the valve rod and releasable means for urging the member into frictional contact with the rod whereby the valve is held in any lifted position until the latter means is released.

ALFRED ROSEWOOD. 

